CVE-2026-79825 in NonStop NDSREST
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
A heap buffer overflow in HPE NonStop NDSREST could corrupt resume-execution address and may potentially redirect execution flow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as a heap-based buffer overflow within the HPE NonStop Network Data Services REST (NDSREST) component represents a critical memory safety failure that compromises the integrity of application control flow. This specific flaw arises when the software processes input data without performing adequate bounds checking, allowing an attacker to write beyond the allocated boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer. In modern computing architectures and operating systems like HPE NonStop T/OS, the heap is used for dynamic memory allocation during runtime operations. When a buffer overflow occurs in this region, it does not merely corrupt data; it frequently overwrites adjacent metadata structures or control variables that are critical to program execution stability. Specifically, in this instance, the overflow targets and corrupts the resume-execution address stored on the stack or within function call frames associated with NDSREST operations.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the manipulation of return addresses or exception handling pointers during REST API processing. When a maliciously crafted HTTP request containing oversized payload data is sent to the vulnerable service, the application allocates insufficient memory for the buffer and proceeds to copy the input without validation. This action causes adjacent memory locations, which may contain saved instruction pointers or stack frame links, to be overwritten with attacker-controlled values. Consequently, when the function returns or an exception handler attempts to resume execution after processing the request, the processor loads the corrupted address into the program counter. This results in a direct hijack of the control flow, allowing the adversary to redirect execution to arbitrary code locations within the process space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks including remote code execution and denial of service conditions. If an attacker can successfully exploit the heap buffer overflow by controlling the overwritten resume-execution address, they may execute shellcode or invoke existing library functions such as system calls, leading to full compromise of the underlying operating system privileges associated with the NDSREST process. Even if exploitation for arbitrary code execution is mitigated by security features like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) or Data Execution Prevention (DEP), the corruption of memory structures can still lead to application crashes and service unavailability, effectively disrupting critical business operations that rely on RESTful data exchange capabilities within the HPE NonStop environment.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-122, which describes a heap-based buffer overflow where writing beyond the end of an allocated object in the heap leads to memory corruption and potential code execution. Furthermore, from a tactical standpoint related to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this flaw facilitates techniques associated with Initial Access via Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190) and subsequent Execution through process injection or arbitrary command invocation (T1055/T1203). The exploitation vector typically involves network communication, making it a remote vulnerability that requires interaction with the REST interface.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching of the HPE NonStop NDSREST component to address the underlying memory management flaw. Organizations should ensure that all software updates provided by Hewlett Packard Enterprise are applied promptly to close this gap in input validation logic. In environments where patching is not immediately feasible, network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to inspect incoming HTTP requests for anomalous payload sizes or specific patterns indicative of buffer overflow attempts. Additionally, restricting access to the NDSREST interface to trusted IP ranges and enforcing strict authentication mechanisms reduces the attack surface available to potential adversaries seeking to exploit this memory corruption vulnerability.